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Randolph's Book Club Deal

½ price books plus have J.F. phone your book club meeting for a live chat. Please email adogabouttown@hotmail.com to arrange.

Randolph’s Review Deal

If you are a blogger or want to review the books in any media, please email adogabouttown@hotmail.com and I will send you free copies.

Randolph’s No-Kill Manhattan Crusade

Yours Truly knows that any attempt to change the world always starts at home. Thus, I’ve decided in the name of canine and human consciousness, cognition and compassion to urge making Manhattan a “No-Kill” island for all animals.

To this end, I will be joining forces with some of the important advocates at work on this issue. I will also highlight the effort through occasional writing and promotions on this site. Naturally, a portion of the proceeds from Randolph’s Store will go to fund the cause.

I love Manhattan. Please visit the map to see some of my favorite haunts and important places featured in the books.
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Randolph’s Shop

Readers have asked me to put their favorite words from the books on both dog and human t-shirts. This is flattering. Happy shopping and remember that a portion of the proceeds will go to our ongoing crusade to make the small isle of Manhattan a model for no-kill shelters.

I am uncertain whether this is a genuine syndrome, but the photographs are arresting. From Huffington Post: both wonderful and thought provoking. As one commentator responded and Yours Truly paraphrases: we should all adopt the oldest and ugliest dog in the shelter, the one who no one else wants.

Stunning Photo Series Highlights The Beauty Of Black Dogs That Are Often Overlooked In Adoption

Photographer Fred Levy may have found his most photogenic subjects yet.

The 44-year-old from Maynard, Mass., recently launched the Black Dogs Project, a photo series that photographs black dogs against a dark background. The initiative tells the story of the difficulties these dogs face when waiting to be adopted.

Although he hasn’t found any concrete statistics, after speaking to people who work in the pet industry and at animal shelters, Levy found out that black dogs are often treated differently than other dogs — and are often overlooked by people who come to shelters with the intention to adopt.

Crickett is one of the dogs Levy has photographed

The phenomenon is commonly referred to as “Black Dog Syndrome” or “Black Dog Bias,” a stereotype against dark-colored animals possibly ingrained in people through depictions in movies and books, according to experts.

“Sometimes black dogs are seen as scarier by people,” Hope Hancock, the executive director of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Wake County in Raleigh, N.C., told ABC News. “It’s very, very unfair — you can get a bite from a little yellow Chihuahua faster than one of the bigger black dogs.”

There is some debate among experts about the validity of this so-called bias. In 2013, the ASPCA reported on a study that cast doubt on the phenomenon, and concluded that it may be a myth.

“I thought this project would be a good graphic challenge and everyone has a really great story to tell,” Levy told The Huffington Post. “I want to bring awareness to this issue and remind people who are searching for the perfect dog that black dogs have great personalities too.”

Now, let’s meet the pups:

Meet Bo. He’s a blind Lab mix who is still looking for his seeing eye owner. He came from a kill shelter down South, and has been staying with a woman who is fostering him for the time being.

“Since he’s constantly moving, everything is always new to him,” Levy told HuffPost. “He would run into the wall in the studio, get frustrated for a minute and then immediately get over it and go back to being himself. It’s adorable.”

Meet Denver. He’s a black Lab and therapy dog. His owner takes him to be with people who need that comfort only a dog can give. He spent time with a first responder for the Boston Marathon bombings, giving support to victims as they were dealing with the traumatic experience.

“He’s really good at it. When you’re in the room with him, he’s super happy to be around you,” Levy said. “He just wants to hang out with you.”

Meet Mercedes. She’s a sassy black poodle and therapy dog who spends time with patients in hospitals.

“She has most recently spent time comforting patients at Emerson Hospital,” Levy said.

“Through doing this project, I’ve found that it’s really important to share the idea that there are always so many dogs in need of a good safe home, regardless of what the dog looks like,” Levy told HuffPost. “Maybe someone will see this and consider the gravity of owning a pet, no matter what color it is.”

A snake has eaten a dog on a chain in Australia: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/python-in-the-dog-house-after-eating-family-pet-20140314-34qzh.html

I hope Yours Truly is not over-reacting, and even though it would take a very large snake to do the same to me, I think I will turn down any offers to head Down Under, lest they turn out to be one way. I feel very sorry, indeed, for this poor dog.

One Montana pup landed himself in the doghouse because he ate $500 in cash that belonged to his owner.

According to the Helena’s Independent Record, graphic artist Wayne Klinkel and his wife were on a road trip to visit their daughter and her husband when they made a pit stop at a restaurant and left their golden retriever Sundance in the car. Turns out, while they were eating, their beloved pet had found the five $100 bills and a $1 bill hidden in one of the cubbyholes, and managed to scarf down four-and-a-half of the Benjamins, but left the $1 on top of the driver’s seat, proving that he has expensive taste.

24. No, it’s not just to make themselves look adorable. Dogs curl up in a ball when they sleep due to an age-old instinct to keep themselves warm and protect their abdomen and vital organs from predators.

True, but I occasionally do this to make myself look adorable if the situation demands it.